Parangana Dam

{{short description|Dam and power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox dam | name = Parangana Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = 240 | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|-41.633183|146.22277|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[North West Tasmania|Northern]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1968}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey River]] | dam_height = {{cvt|53|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|189|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|382|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Uncontrolled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|2093|m3/s}} | res_name = Lake Parangana | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|14820|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|715|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|11.4|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|379|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Parangana Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|-41.629397979|146.2202809103|format=dms|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = 2002 | plant_decommission = | plant_type = [[Hydroelectricity#Run-of-the-river|Run-of-the-river]] [[mini-hydro]] | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|35|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|0.75|MW}}<br />{{small|(Tyco Tamar [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]])}} | plant_capacity = {{cvt|0.75|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.81 | plant_annual_gen = | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }}

The '''Parangana Dam''' is an earthen-faced rockfill [[embankment dam]] across the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey River]], located south of [[Mersey Forest]], in the [[North West Tasmania|northern]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1968, the resultant [[reservoir]], Lake Parangana, was established for the purpose of generating [[hydro-electricity|hydro-electric power]] via the '''Parangana Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] [[mini-hydro]] [[power station]].

The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].

== Dam and reservoir overview == The [[rock-filled dam]] wall with a clay core is {{convert|53|m}} high and {{convert|189|m}} long. When full, Lake Parangana has capacity of {{convert|14820|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|11.4|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|715|km2}}. The single [[spillway#Types|uncontrolled]] spillway is capable of discharging {{convert|2093|m3/s}}.<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 397}}</ref>

Water is fed into Lake Parangana after running through the [[Rowallan Dam#Hydroelectric power station|Rowallan]] and [[Mackenzie Dam#Hydroelectric power station|Fisher]] power stations. After running through the Parangana mini-hydro power station, water travels approximately {{convert|8|km|mi|spell=in|adj=on}} tunnels to the [[Lemonthyme Power Station]] which discharges into the [[Forth River (Tasmania)|River Forth]]. However, for environmental reasons, some water continues down the Mersey River. The station was built to generate energy from this environmental flow. As a result, the Mersey-Forth power development diverts the majority of water from the upper reaches of the Mersey from Lake Parangana to the River Forth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nre.tas.gov.au/Documents/Mersey%20River%20Annual%20Report%2024-25.pdf |title={{Title case|MERSEY RIVER CATCHMENT REPORT 2024/25}} |work=Department of Natural Resources and Environment |publisher=[[Tasmanian Government]] |date=August 2025 |access-date=2026-04-30 }}</ref>

On 2 March 2026, it was announced that the Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation project officially commenced. The project will enable water to flow from the Mersey River, backed up by the Parangana Dam, to ensure farmers have water even in dry times. The project will add approximately {{convert|9.2|e9ML|acre.ft}} of water to the scheme, and is expected to be completed by mid-to-late 2027, including the installation of more than {{convert|100|km}} of new and upgraded pipes; two pump stations (new and refurbished); a balance tank; and seventy water outlets for farms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/work-starts-new-project-set-almost-triple-local-water-supply |title=Work starts on new project set to almost triple local water supply |work=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |publisher=[[Australian Government]] |date=2026-03-02 |access-date=2026-04-30 }}</ref>

== Hydroelectric power station == The power station was commissioned in 2002 by Hydro Tasmania and is the only mini hydro electric power station in the Mersey{{endash}}Forth run-of-river scheme that also contains seven run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Our power stations: Mersey-Forth |work=Energy |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> The Parangana Power Station has one Tyco Tamar [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|0.85|MW}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Parangana_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |title=Parangana Power Station: Technical fact sheet |work=Mersey-Forth Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033320/http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Parangana_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |archivedate=24 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821083524/https://engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/eha-magazine-v1-6.pdf |archive-date=2022-08-21 |url=https://engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/eha-magazine-v1-6.pdf |title=The Hydro after 100 Years |work=[[EHA Magazine]] |date=March 2015 |page=19 |access-date= }}</ref>

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water}}}} * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * {{section link|List of reservoirs and dams in Australia|Tasmania}} * {{section link|List of lakes of Australia|Tasmania}} * [[List of run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/our-energy-system/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Our power stations: Mersey-Forth |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=2026-04-30 }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/mersey-forth_commitments_poster.pdf |title=Mersey-Forth Water Management Review: Program Commitments |format=schematic |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-30 }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/mersey-forth_techreport_fish_migration.pdf |title=Mersey-Forth Water Management Review: Fish Migration in the Mersey-Forth catchments: Technical and Social Study |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=November 2013 |access-date=2026-04-30 }} * {{cite journal |author=Knighton, A. D. |title=The impact of the Parangana Dam on the River Mersey, Tasmania |journal=Geomorphology |volume=1 |issue=3 |year=1988 |pages=221-237 |issn=0169-555X |doi=10.1016/0169-555X(88)90015-3 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0169555X88900153 |via=Science Direct |format=Abstract |access-date=2026-04-30 |url-access=subscription }}

[[Category:1968 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1968]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2002]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Localities of Meander Valley Council]] [[Category:Mersey River (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Northern Tasmania]] [[Category:Reservoirs in Tasmania|Parangana]] [[Category:Rock-filled dams]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]]